The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Payne knew potential land grab pre-poll

Defence Minister Marise Payne has admitted she knew before the federal election in July about potential land acquisitions in order to expand Queensland military bases.

A farmer backlash has forced the the federal government to scrap plans to compulsorily acquire agricultural land for the expansion at Shoalwater Bay base, near Rockhampton, and the Townsville Field Training area.

"I was preliminary advised about the potential requirements for training area expansion in June 2016, that goes to all aspects of the processes under the Land Acquisition Act, " Senator Payne told question time in parliament on Monday.

Queensland Labor senator Murray Watt was outraged.

"Means Michelle Landry elected on a lie," Senator Watt said on Twitter, referring to the member for Capricornia who won the marginal seat by 1111 votes.

He questioned whether Ms Landry and Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan also knew that early.

The expansion plan was part of a $2.2 billion investment by Singapore for joint training facilities with Australia.